i really tried to get involved in research, i asked professors, i searched for opportunities on my own online, ect. (i go to a community college so sadly no professors really do any of their own research)
is it bad to mention this effort as a sort of excuse as to why i couldn’t do research? one of my professors managed to hook another student up but i don’t want to sound petty by mentioning that either… but if we’re applying to similar schools i also don’t want to look like i didn’t try hard enough. privilege might come into it as well but i definitely don’t want to make myself look like a victim since that sounds even worse…
im a science major by the way. i know schools are looking for this so i don’t know if i should address the deficiency or simply ignore it completely.
It is not worth mentioning. Focus on what you DID and what makes YOU special instead of what you didn’t do. Plus I don’t think most colleges are looking for a cookie cutter type of student anyway
Here on CC you could get the idea that just about every STEM applicant has research experience, which is definitely not the case! You are right, for most pre-university students it is a matter of privilege- often, but not necessarily financial privilege: they go to a HS that has cultivated ties with research institutions, they have a teacher who has a connection, they have family or friends who work in a research institution, etc. Most applicants will not have any.
One question to ask yourself, though, in a serious, clear-eyed way: did your teacher ‘manage to hook another student up’ b/c that student was a stronger student than you? did that the other student asked first? was it just random? look at it and see if there are any lessons to be learned there- b/c there will be more times when a professor can be an important part of getting ahead (recommendations, contacts)